Chapter 17 Information and Communication Technology (Long Questions)
17.1. What is difference between data and information?
17.2. What do you understand by Information and Communication Technology (ICT)?
17.3. What are the components of information technology? Clearly indicate the function of each component.
17.4. Differentiate between the primary memory and the secondary memory.
17.5. Name different information storage devices and describe their uses.
17.6. Explain briefly the transmission of radio waves through space.
17.7. How light signals are sent through optical fiber?
17.8. What is computer? What is the role of computer in everyday life?
17.9. What is the difference between hardware and software? Name different software.
17.10. What do you understand by the term word processing and data managing?
17.11. What is Internet? Internet is a useful source of knowledge and information. Discuss.
17.12. Discuss the role of information technology in school education.
CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS
17.1. Why optical fiber is more useful tool for the communication process?
17.2. Which is more reliable floppy disk or a hard disk?
17.3. What is the difference between RAM and ROM memories?
17.1. What is difference between data and information?
Ans. Data: Data is raw information in the form of figures, alphabet, or graphics.
Information: Information is a processed data on some logical operations that can be used for useful purposes.
17.2. What do you understand by Information and Communication Technology (ICT)?
Ans. Information and Communication Technology (ICT):
Information and communication technology is electronic based system which deals with scientific methods and means to store and process vast amount of information in seconds and of telecommunication to transmit it almost instantaneously.
It is combination of two fields, namely “Information Technology” (IT) and “Communication Technology” (CT).
17.3. What are the components of information technology? Clearly indicate the function of each component.
Ans. An information system is described as having five components.
1. Computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the case, central processing unit (CPU), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers and motherboard. Hardware is typically directed by the software to execute any command or instruction.
2. Computer software
Software is a program that enables a computer to perform a specific task, as opposed to the physical components of the system (hardware). This includes application software such as a word processor, which enables a user to perform a task, and system software such as an operating system, which enables other software to run properly, by interfacing with hardware and with other software.
3. Telecommunications
This component connects the hardware together to form a network. Connections can be through wires, such as Ethernet cables or fibre optics, or wireless, such as through Wi-Fi. A network can be designed to tie together computers in a specific area, such as an office or a school, through a local area network (LAN). If computers are more dispersed, the network is called a wide area network (WAN). The Internet itself can be considered a network of networks.
4. Databases and data warehouses
This component is where the “material” that the other components work with resides. A database is a place where data is collected and from which it can be retrieved by querying it using one or more specific criteria. A data warehouse contains all of the data in whatever form that an organization needs. Databases and data warehouses have assumed even greater importance in information systems with the emergence of “big data,” a term for the truly massive amounts of data that can be collected and analyzed.
5. Human resources and procedures
The final, and possibly most important, component of information systems is the human element: the people that are needed to run the system and the procedures they follow so that the knowledge in the huge databases and data warehouses can be turned into learning that can interpret what has happened in the past and guide future action.
17.4. Differentiate between the primary memory and the secondary memory.
Ans. Primary Memory: It is based on electronics and consists of integrated circuits (ICs). It is Random Access Memory (RAM). It vanishes when the computer is switched off.
Secondary Storage Devices: The data stored devices are generally the secondary memory of the computer. It is used to store data permanently in the computer. When we open a program data is moved from the secondary storage into the primary storage.
17.5. Name different information storage devices and describe their uses.
Ans. A storage device is a piece of computer hardware used for saving, carrying and pulling out data. It can keep and retain information short-term or long-term. It can be a device inside or outside a computer or server. Other terms for storage device is storage medium or storage media.
A storage device is one of the basic elements of any computer device. It almost saves all data and applications in a computer except for hardware firmware. It comes in different shapes and sizes depending on the needs and functionalities.
Types of Storage Devices
There are two different types of storage devices:
| Primary Storage Device | Secondary Storage Device | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Data Retention | Temporary | Permanent |
| Location | Internal | Internal / External |
| Examples | RAM, Cache Memory | Hard disk, Compact Disk Drive, USB storage device |
Examples of Storage Device
- Magnetic Storage Device – one of the most popular types of storage used.
- Floppy diskette – A normal 3 ½ inch disk can store 1.44 MB of data.
- Hard drive – An internal hard drive is the main storage device in a computer. An external hard drive is also known as removable hard drive. It is used to store portable data and backups.
- Magnetic strip – Magnetic tape drive stores video and audio using magnetic tape, like tape and video tape recorders.
- Super disk – A disk drive and diskette that can hold 120 MB and 240 MB of data.
- Cassette tape – A magnetic storage device used for audio recording and playback.
- Zip diskette – Like a floppy diskette but more advanced.
- Optical Storage Device – uses lasers and lights as its mode of saving and retrieving data.
- Blu-ray disc – A digital optical storage device which was intended to replace the DVD format.
- CD-ROM disc – An optical storage device that is read-only or cannot be modified nor deleted.
- CD-R and CD-RW disc – CD-R is a recordable disc that can be written to once, while CD-RW is a rewritable disc that can be written to multiple times.
- DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+RW disc – DVD-R and DVD+R are recordable discs that can be written to once, while DVD-RW and DVD+RW are rewritable discs that can be written to multiple times. The difference between the + and – is in the formatting and compatibility.
- Flash Memory Device – is now replacing magnetic storage device as it is economical, more functional and dependable.
- Memory card – An electronic flash memory device used to store digital information and commonly used in mobile electronic devices.
- Memory stick – A memory card that is removable.
- SSD – Solid State Drive – A flash memory device that uses integrated circuit assemblies to save data steadily.
- USB flash drive, jump drive or thumb drive – A small, portable storage device connected through the USB port.
- Online and Cloud – is now becoming widespread as people access data from different devices.
- Cloud storage – Data is managed remotely and made available over a network. Basic features are free to use but upgraded version is paid monthly as a per consumption rate.
- Network media – Audio, Video, Images or Text that are used on a computer network. A community of people create and use the content shared over the internet.
- Paper Storage – method used by early computers for saving information.
- OMR – stands for Optical Mark Recognition – A process of capturing marked data of human from forms like surveys and tests. It is used to read questionnaires with multiple choices that are shaded.
- Punch card – A piece of hard paper used to contain digital information coming from the perforated holes. The presence or absence of holes in predetermined positions define the data.
17.6. Explain briefly the transmission of radio waves through space.
Ans. Transmission of Information Through Space:
Information like sound, video clips, graphics etc. can be sent from one place ‘to another place. First by changing the information into electrical signals and then these signals are superimposed on electromagnetic waves which are called carriers waves. These carriers waves travel in space and then at the receiving end this information is demodulated into original information.
17.7. How light signals are sent through optical fiber?
Ans. Optical Fibers: (As “Optics” means related to “Light” & “Fiber” mean “Thread” ).
Optical Fiber is a strand of glass or plastic not much thicker than human hair uses light signals to transfer information from one end to other.
Propagation of light signals in an optical fiber requires the light should be confined within the fiber. This is done by total internal reflection that the angle of incidence should be greater than the critical angle.
17.8. What is computer? What is the role of computer in everyday life?
Ans. Computer:
Computer is an electronic computing device. It makes analysis, operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication etc. and arranges the information given to it.
Role of Computer:
Computer has changed the world revolutionary. It has made the world into a global village. Computer “is one of the base components of information technology. Using computer we can collect and share the knowledge through internet.
Almost all the offices have computer to manage their day-by-day work. Banks make transactions through computers.
17.9. What is the difference between hardware and software? Name different software.
Ans. Computers work through an interaction of hardware and software.
Hardware:
Hardware of a computer is a solid device like keyboard, mouse, monitor, motherboard etc.
Software:
Software refer to the instructions, or programs that tell the hardware what to do. For example operating systems, Microsoft application (MS Office) etc.
Operating System:
It is essential for a computer having operating system.
For example: Windows, Linux are operating system.
17.10. What do you understand by the term word processing and data managing?
Ans. Word Processing: It is a computer program, which helps us to write letters, reports and books. Hence, to type something by computers keyboard, to correct, to arrange, to amend the document, to add and delete the written portion when required is called the word processing.
Data Managing: The information about a subject can be stored in the computer in more than one interlinked files, which may be shared in different programs. This is called “Data Managing” Addition and deletions in the data are possible.
17.11. What is Internet? Internet is a useful source of knowledge and information. Discuss.
Ans. Internet:
Internet is a worldwide network of computers· that use common communication standards and interface to provide the physical backbone for a number of interesting applications.
- Today Internet comprises of many million computers.
- The language used in Internet is called HTML, which is abbreviation of Hypertext Markup Language.
- All connected computers communicate through same code. It is called “protocol” whose name is TCP/IP. It is abbreviation of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.
- Basically three major search services available for different tasks. Directories, search engine and metasearch engine.
17.12. Discuss the role of information technology in school education.
Ans. Information Technology (IT):
The scientific method for storing, arranging information for proper use and to communicate them to others is called the information technology (IT). Computers and internet, etc. are the main sources for the information technology.
Role of IT in School Education:
School education is an important aspect of human life. If from the growing age the students are familiar with computers then it will be easy for them to get maximum benefits from computer technology.
Utilizing the computers we can meet and compare the international standard of school education. There should be computer labs in schools. Students and teachers should have access to internet. For students they should get” permission from their teachers to use internet for useful purposes under the supervision of their teachers.
CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS
17.1. Why optical fiber is more useful tool for the communication process?
Ans. Optical fiber is a strand of glass Or plastic (not thick than human hair) uses light signal to carry the information. Light signals have very high frequency so more information can be send per second over large distances without interruption and loss of information.
17.2. Which is more reliable floppy disk or a hard disk?
Ans. Floppy Disk:
A floppy disc is made of flexible plastic wafer packed in plastic case. It is coated with magnetic oxide. Data stored on floppy disks is also subject to loss as a result of stray magnetic fields. It can not be used for long time.
Hard Disk:
Hard disc is made of .aluminum and is enameled with a layer of a metal like Fe. Co, Kr, Ni; which can be magnetized easily. Hard disk has higher speed and larger capacity of data storage. It is more reliable than floppy disk.
17.3. What is the difference between RAM and ROM memories?
Ans. RAM (Random Access Memory):
It is based on electronics and consists of integrated circuits (lCs). It is Random Access Memory (RAM)~ It vanishes when the computer is switched off.
ROM (Reed Only Memory):
It is based on electronics and consists of integrated circuits (lCs). It is Reed Only Memory (ROM). It remains even ‘when the computer is switched off.